Magnetic lifter for cans.



A. L. ANDERSON.

MAGNETIC LIFTER FOR CANS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 1917.

1,251,782. Patented Jan. 1,1918.

ARTHUR L. ANDERSON, 0F JUNEAU, WISCONSIN.

MAGNETIC LIFTER- ron CANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

Application filed April 2, 1917. Serial No. 159,124.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Juneau, in the county of Dodge and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magnetic Lifters for Cans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved device or implement to be used for lifting and handling cans (such as those used as containers for condensed milk, peas, corn and other products) in quantities, and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, combination and operation of the various parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a lifter for cans and the like, of the above named general character, which shall be simple and'inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and efficient in operation, with its parts so made and arranged, and of such character, that any desired number of cans or the like can be instantly engaged and then lifted or transferred from one place to another thereby, and then instantly released in the positions they are desired to occupy. A further object is to so construct the body of the lifter that a portion thereof will rest against the cans at points below the engaging members or magnets of the lifter, in such a manner as to relieve said members or magnets of a part of the strain incident to the weight or leverage of the cans when being moved. Still another object is to provide the lifter with a guide or flange to e used in correctly positioning the device on a plurality of cans when they are stacked on their sides in rows (as usual) or when standing on their ends in rows. Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the sub-joined description and explanation.

In the accompanying drawing which serves to illustrate an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1, is a plan view partly in section of the lifter showing a portion of the upper part thereof broken away, and illustrating the electro-magnets in elevation.

Fig. 2, is a front or face view of the lifter.

- Fig. 3, is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows, showing by dogted lines a portion of one of the cans an Fig. 4:, is a similar view taken on the same line showing a modified form of the body of the lifter and illustrating one of the handles broken off, for the convenience of illustration.

Like numerals of reference, refer to corresponding parts throughout the difl'erent views of the drawings.

The body of the lifter is designated by the reference numeral 6 and consists of an elongated piece of metal having at its upper edge a forwardly extended flange or guide 7, which is extended from the body 6 at a right angle thereto as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The lower edge of the body 6 is also provided with a forwardly extended flange 8 but which is of less width than the flange 7, when the latter is employed, for the purpose to be hereinafter explained. Mounted onthe front surface of the body 6 in a longitudinal row thereon at a slight distance below the" upper edge of the body, are a number of electromagnets 9 of the ordinary or any well-known construc tion, the details of which construction it is deemed unnecessary to herein set-forth. As

shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, these magnets are spaced apart and are electrically connected in series by conductors 11 which may lie along the front surface of the body 6 and may be suitably shielded or protected if desired. The ends of the conductors 11 are connected to a push-button-s'witch 12 of the ordinary or any well-known construction, which switch is by preference located on one of the handles 13 with which the body 6 is provided on its rear portion near each of its ends. The switch 12 has leading therefrom to a source of electric supply, not shown, electric conductors 14 which of course should be quite flexible and of any desired length. The handles 13 may be secured to the body 6 by means of screw-bolts 15 extended through suitable openings in the body and engaging suitable openings in the inner ends of the handles or any other suitable means for attaching the handles to the body may be employed.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, a modification in the construction thereof is shown, which consists in omitting the guide flange 7 at the upper edge of the body as shown in the other can or they ,may

views of the drawing. Otherwise the modified form of the body is of the same construction as before set forth.

By reference to the drawing, it will be seen that the lower extension or flange 8 in either construction extends forwardly the same distance as do the magnets, in other words, the width of the flange 8 is substantially the same as the length of the magnets, and it will be readily understood and clearly seen that by this construction or arrangement when the cans 16 or other objects possessing magnetic properties are placed in the positions shown by dotted lines with respect to the magnets and lifter body, the upper portions of the cans will be engaged by the attraction of the magnets, after the,

electriccurrent has been turned on, and-will be held in said positions against the free edge of the flange 8 which will prevent rocking or leverage on the magnets and thereby relieve them of some of the strain incident to the weight of the cans when being moved. The flange 7, when the same is employed, extends forwardly of and over the free ends of the magnets as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 and can be laid on the upper surface of a row of cans, when the latter lie on their sides, thus acting as a guide for the lifter. It is obvious that if the cans are located on their ends and in rows the flange 7 can be placed vertically so as to contact with the sides of'the cans and bring them into alinement with one another. 4

While I have shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the magnets arranged so that two of them will engage each can 16, yet it is obvious that one magnet only may engage each e grouped so that a plurality of the magnets may contact with the end of each can.

In using thelifter the electric current is preferably turned ofi' by means of the switch 12 until the lifter is properl positioned on the cans when by means 0 the switch 12 the current may be turned on thus exciting orcharging the magnets and .causingthem to attract or adhere to the ends of the cans in about the positions shown in'Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing, when it is obvious the cans may be lifted and moved to any desired place, when by pressing the pushbutton-switch 12 and breaking the current the cans will be instantly released. I

By my improvements it is apparent that a large number of cans can be handled at one time in a very easy and convenient manner.

, Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent .is

1. A magnetic lifter for cans consisting of a body having at one of its edges a forwardly extended flange, a plurality of electro-magnets mounted on said body in a row longitudinally with respect to said flange and electrically connected in series, and a switch in the electric circuit.

2. A magnetic lifter for cans consisting of a body having at one of its edges a for- Wardly extended flange, a plurality of electro-magnets mounted on said body in a row longitudinally with respect to said flange and electrically connected in series, handles on the body, and a switch on one of said handles and in the electric circuit.

3. A magnetic liftenfor cans consisting of a body, a plurality of electro-magnets mounted in a row on one face thereof and electrically connected in series, a flange on the body and extended longitudinally with respect to the row of the magnets and projected beyond their front or free ends, and a switch in the electric circuit.

4. A magnetic lifter for cans, consisting of a body'having a forwardly extending flange at or near each of its edges, one of said flanges being of greater width than the other, a plurality of electro-magnets mounted on the body between said flanges and electrically connected in series, the length of said magnetsbeing less than the width of the wider flange and substantially the same as the width of the narrowerflange, anda switch in the electric circuit.

- ARTHUR L. ANDERSON.

Witnesses: j

,F. W. GEBHARDT,

FAY Ems. 

